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How to Sign in to Store with Different Microsoft Account in Windows 10

Information

The Windows Store offers various apps that users can browse through, purchase, or get for free to download and install to their Microsoft account in Windows 10 PCs and devices.

To be able to install apps from the Store, you must be signed in to the Store with a Microsoft account. When signed in to the Store with a Microsoft account, you will be able to install any apps already owned by that Microsoft account.

If you sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, then you will be signed in to the Store with the same Microsoft account by default. If you like, you could sign in to the Store with a different Microsoft account and still remain signed in to Windows 10 with your current Microsoft account.

If you sign in to Windows 10 with a local account, then you are not signed in to the Store by default. You could sign in to the Store with a Microsoft account and still remain signed in to Windows 10 with your local account.

This tutorial will show you how to sign in with a different account and sign out of the Store while signed in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account or local account.

Note

If you have the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Educationedition installed, you will no longer need to be signed in to the Store with a Microsoft account to install an app from the Store.

There are some restrictions though:

The Windows 10 Home edition still requires signing in to the Store with a Microsoft account before any apps or games can be downloaded.

Only free apps or games can be installed without a Microsoft account. This is likely done to avoid situations where pay for apps or games would not be available to reinstall (if needed) without having to pay for them again.

You will need to download all apps again whenever you reinstall Windows 10.

Some apps may still require a Microsoft account to work properly or at all.

4. Do step 5, step 6, or step 7 below for what account your would like to sign in to the Store with.

5. Sign in to Store with Existing Microsoft Account

Note

This will let you sign in to the Store with a Microsoft account that you have already signed in to the Store with, and still let you be signed in to Windows 10 with your current Microsoft account or local account.

A) Click/tap on a listed account. (see screenshot below)

6. Sign in to Store with New Microsoft Account

Note

This will let you sign in to the Store with a Microsoft account that you haven't already signed in to the Store with, and still let you be signed in to Windows 10 with your current Microsoft account or local account.

A) Click/tap on Microsoft account. (see screenshot below)

B) Type in the email address and password of your Microsoft account, and click/tap on Sign in. (see screenshot below)

C) If prompted, select how you would like to get your security code for verification, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

D) Enter the code you received, and click/tap on Next. (see screenshot below)

This will let you sign in to the Store with a work or school account that you haven't already signed in to the Store with, and still let you be signed in to Windows 10 with your current Microsoft account or local account.

A) Click/tap on Work or school account. (see screenshot below)

B) Type in the email address and password of your work or school account, and click/tap on Sign in. (see screenshot below)

I was following this tutorial and it seems the menus have been simplified in AU version and if you are on a local account, you no longer need to select the link to sign in to MS account later.

In fact, in my tests, it simply logins in to Store and no longer defaults to changing your local account to an MS account unless you click the link . In fact, it looks like it no longer even allows that as an option i.e, the only action is to login to Store using MS account but your actual login is unaffected.

If I am right, this is a big improvement as this has caught many a person out.

Could somebody check it out and confirm I am correct - if so, it might be worth updating tutorial?

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It looks like Microsoft has change what the link says at step 6E. It now says Sign in to just this app instead.

I have updated the tutorial. Thank you.

Great - this is definitely a good change - it proves MS do listen to feedback.

Edit: I am puzzled now as your screens are different to mine!

I will post image when I get on my pc.

Edit 2: This is interesting. You get the new link first time you set Store to login to a new account (ie one not shown initially) but if you create a new one, sign out, then select same (now existing) MS account, you do not get the link!

Great consistency eh - LOL!

Last edited by cereberus; 12 Sep 2016 at 18:16.

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hi i've downloaded some games from my window store account and i want to know if it's possible how to download back the same game for example when you change your microsoft account like in android we can have several accounts and switch between them so we can have 2 account each of them have it different game or the same one but used like 2 different persons

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You could sign in to the Store with the Microsoft account that owns the apps to be able to download them. Be sure to click on the Sign in to just this app link though so you don't change the account you sign in to Windows 10 with.

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